I haven't written in a couple of weeks because I have a lot on my mind and things have been generally crazy. School is more stressful than I remember it being in a while, mostly for reasons that have very little or nothing to do with me or my ability to do my job. Somehow that makes it more annoying, not less. The thought that recurrently runs through my head isn't "I clearly have no control over this, so I should step back and concentrate on other things." That would be the rational thing to say to oneself. Instead, it's "why can't I fix this? And this? And this and this?!" In all likelihood, this feeling will continue for an undetermined length of time, and that is unfortunate.
But for now I am on vacation and that is wonderful in many ways. I am home to enjoy the open space of the backyard, the exuberance of the many dogs, and the company of my family. This particular vacation is also turning out to be the time when I handle a myriad of random and obnoxious "housekeeping" tasks, another source of mild anxiety surging. As I deal (badly) with car trouble, portfolio chaos, the wrong maid of honor dress, and the absurdity of a $500 change fee to alter my honeymoon plans to exclude Tokyo, I am immensely grateful that it's spring break. I have the time to call the airline and wait an hour (or three) for them to call me back. I can bug my well-connected uncle to help me get my car fixed rather than dropping it at some random mechanic in Crooklyn Brooklyn. The fact that all the extra stress has piled on now rather than during a regular school week is a grand and glorious blessing. It also really helps that I am breathing fresh air, getting hugs from family every day, and watching my Lola snooze the day away after a morning of running around in the drizzling April rain. It's the little things, people.
Here are a few things that I don't care about at all: award shows, American Idol, and Charlie Sheen. I care so little and am so annoyed with the outpouring of "news" regarding this man that I am reluctant even to write his name here, but whatever, he's everywhere.
Some things I do currently care about: workers' rights in Wisconsin, the new season of Radiolab (coming a week from today), and old school musicals with songs that get stuck in your head. In particular, I'm on a Hello, Dolly kick at the moment. If your only exposure to to this great romantic comedy/musical extravaganza is that stupid Wall-e movie, then you're really missing out. It is an over-the-top two and a half hours of dramatic song and dance, cheesy yet melt-your-heart romantic moments, and some of the prettiest costumes ever. To top that, part of it was filmed in Garrison, my beloved home town.
Many Garrisonites our age don't even know about it because they don't have parents who were around when it was shot, and they didn't have a grandmother who had Gene Kelly staying in her house during the summer of 1960-something. I, however, do have those parents - my father is supposedly in a shot riding a bike or something - and that grandmother, who still plays the soundtrack at least once a day on her surround sound system. She also frequently asks anyone who'll listen why the movie producers bothered to bring Barbara Streisand up from New York when "they could have had the original Dolly right here!"
Watch the video below to be enthralled by one of my favorite songs from the film. I also love "Before the Parade Passes By" because it's so over-the-top dramatic, but there's no Garrison in that scene. The beginning of Sunday Clothes is boring and Michael Crawford is a little creepy, but just watch it (I fast-forward to Barbara's part, around 1:30). If you're from Garrison, are fond of Garrison, or just love cheesy and overblown musicals, you won't feel your time wasted as you watch the train pull up to "Yonkers" and head towards the city along the glorious Hudson River. So very nostalgic.
PS - I do a great Barbara impersonation, in case you were wondering.
